Talk:Hintsa kaKhawuta

Is George Southey the same person as Robert Southey? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 196.30.218.10 (talk) 14:21, 17 July 2013 (UTC)

The Death of Chief Hintsa - An extract from George Southey's diary regarding the shooting of Chief Hintsa.

TUESDAY, 12th MAY About midnight the rouse was sounded, which put the whole camp on the move, and in about an hour all was ready for a start, and slow and silent moved the column forward, keeping still a beaten path which led to a station, one belonging to Mr. Edward Driver, near the Bashee. Just at dawn of day we saw Xhosa spies moving in all directions, and every path was beaten with cattle spoors. Hintza appeared very uneasy, and wanted to turn back saying- “Here are the cattle spoors, make haste and follow them up and you will get them; but if you go along the road at this slow pace, you will never come up with them for the Xhosa travel faster than you do. Why not go as Somerset does, in different lots?” Soon after sunrise we off-saddled and breakfasted. After halting about two hours, we up-saddled, leaving the wagon with Mr. Fynn, and the knocked-up men behind, in all about seventy in number, and proceeded on our way, still keeping the spoor of the cattle, but not able to get sight of them. Hintza again said- “Why not let ME turn around. I have brought you to the cattle, what more can I do? He seemed loth to go on, and said- “These people will fight”. Seeing that he would not be allowed to turn back, he ordered his followers to ride in the rear; but this, of course, was not allowed, and the guides did their duty and kept them all together. After going on for a few miles, Colonel Smith told Hintza that he had better send some of his people to tell the Xhosa not to fly with the cattle, as he would follow them to hell, therefore they had better stop and give up at once, or he would shoot man, woman, and child. Upon this Hintza sent two of his men on, and as he said, to tell them not to fly with their cattle, but it proved afterwards that they were sent for quite another purpose, viz. to tell them to be off, as the commando was coming, keeping still on the spoor for about two miles. We halted for about quarter of an hour, and here Hintza was seen to tie a knot of lucky grass on to his necklace. From here we descended down a hill and crossed the river “Xebecca”, and it being steep on the other side to ascend, all dismounted with the exception of Colonel Smith, who rode in front of Hintza. His two men walking up the hill followed by the guides until they got near the top, when Hintza mounted his horse, as did also his people, and pushed gently past to the front. I called to the people in front to ask if the prisoners were safe and was answered yes. Again, I asked if he was in front of the Colonel and was also answered yes. Upon this I, William and Harry mounted our horses and pushed past through the bushes on the left of the line and got up in front of Hintza, who in one moment whipped his horse and away he went, followed by Colonel Smith and us three who had got in front, and all the others as they came out on the top of the hill. Colonel Smith’s horse being the swiftest, he came up to him first and snapped his pistol. Finding that it missed fire, he threw it at Hintza’s head; the second pistol also missed, and that followed the first. The Colonel now struck him with a fist, but all to no purpose. He then seized him by the “kaross” at the back of the neck, and pulled him from his horse. Hintza, finding himself on the ground, and closely pursued, drew an assegai and threw it at the Colonel. While this was going on I gained ground upon him, sprang from my horse, and called out to him to stop or I would shoot him. He looked round, but took no further notice of it, and I fired and struck him on the left leg, just under the calf and close to the bones. I called again to him to stay, but to no purpose. Then the Colonel ordered me to fire again. I did so, and the ball passed through his body on the right side, just under the ribs. He fell and rolled over, but was soon on his legs again, and kept on the same way down the hill, and into the bush. I jumped down the bank and ran into the bush. A rustling of assegais brought me to the spot where Hintza lay, concealed under a large stone in the river, and while in the act of lifting his assegai I shot him through the top of his head, which laid him dead on the spot. Three hurras were given and answered from the top of the hill by the Colonel and the troops. And after taking his assegais and ornaments, I left him to his fate, and returned to the top of the hill. Colonel Smith claimed the assegais and presented me with Hintza’s horse – a very fine animal it was. (Note: This was a horse given to Hintza by Commandant van Wyk, then living where Tarkastad is now, on the Elands River, H.S.) One of the two men of Hintza’s who attempted to escape, got shot by the Hottentots about a mile from the river where Hintza was shot. The pistols the Colonel threw at Hintza and the assegai that Hintza threw at the Colonel being found, the column moved forward towards the Bashee River, still keeping on the cattle spoors. Xhosa were to be seen in all directions on the tops of the hills, and a solitary beast here and there that could have been left behind. Keeping on a good pace until nearly sunset we came in sight of the Bashee, and from the top of the hills numerous herds of cattle could be seen, both in the valley below and on the opposite side. Making haste down the hill, we managed to secure the greater part of those in the valley and kloofs near the river, but night coming on prevented us from capturing those on the opposite hills. About two hours after dark, all the parties out in search of cattle having returned, we formed up in proper order and a strong guard placed over the cattle, and all remained quiet during the night.

Submitted by Johan du Toit son-in-law to TDR Southey son of Charles Sourthey. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 105.186.74.96 (talk) 10:57, 16 December 2019 (UTC)